Innovation and technological development in energy

The Commission has proposed a new multiannual programme of action in the field of energy."Intelligent Energy for Europe" implements the course of action outlined in the Commission’s Energy - Security of Supply Green Paper of November 2000. It aims at strengthening security of supply, fighting against climate change and stimulating the competitiveness of European industry. "Intelligent Energy for Europe" will provide financial support to local, regional and national initiatives in the fields of renewable energies, energy efficiency, energy aspects of transport and their international promotion.

Actions that can benefit from EU financial assistance must aim at stimulating the European market, and,among other things:
- Increase energy efficiency by around 1% per year;
- Increase the use of renewable energy in consumption from 6% to 12% by 2010;
- Increase to 22.1% by 2010 the percentage of electricity produced from renewable sources ;
- Increase the production of electricity produced from cogeneration by 2010;
- Develop the potential of renewable sources of energy;
- Promote Kyoto mechanisms

The new programme:
- reinforces the "renewable energies" (ALTENER) and "efficient energy " (SAVE) fields;
- redirects the existing international action: "promotion on the international level of the efficient use of energy and the use of energy supplied from renewable sources" (COOPENER);
- introduces a new field of action: "energy in transport" (STEER).

The Commission proposes an overall budget of 215 million € between 2003-2006. The Energy Framework Programme (1998-2002) was allocated an overall budget of 175 millions.